Musician and Educator

Tag Archives: Orchestra

As the days get longer, and (hypothetically) warmer, opportunities for musical growth have also arrived. If you and/or your child are looking for an extra-curricular ensemble for next fall, now is the time to sign up. Here is a list of opportunities available in the Greater Boston area:

Note that auditions for the different types of ensembles are scheduled separately. Chamber music is also available either separately, or in addition to large ensembles.

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra

BPYO is for students ages 12 to 21 (with an emphasis on high school and above for the winds and brass). It is a tuition-free ensemble, with rehearsals on Saturdays in the downtown area near Symphony Hall and NEC.

Registration begins in March, with auditions taking place in mid-May (except for Brass Ensemble, which auditions in September). The requirements are:

Two contrasting pieces or movements of the highest level that showcase musical and technical abilities

WCMS offers an excellent chamber music program for students of all ages. Rehearsal dates and times are arranged according to the schedules of participants and coaches, and are held at the music school.

Placement auditions are generally held in the spring and fall. The requirements are:

I’ve been approached by several students and parents this spring asking about extra-curricular ensemble opportunities. In Greater Boston we’re lucky to have an abundance of programs for intermediate to advanced students, and while this is not a comprehensive list, here a few of the highlights:

MMEA Festival Ensembles

The Massachusetts Music Educators Association runs three sets of 3 day festivals every year – Junior Districts, Senior Districts, and All-State. Students audition for placement into these honors ensembles based on their grade, and where they live. The state is broken down into 5 different districts; for example, students in Wellesley are in the Eastern District, and students in Winchester are in the Northeastern District. Junior Districts are for students in grades 7-9, and Senior Districts are for grades 9-12. If a Senior District student receives a score above a certain threshold, they are eligible to audition for All-State.

Senior District Auditions take place in mid-November, with the festival in mid-January. All-State Auditions are held in the third week of January, with the festival in mid-March. Junior District Auditions take place in late January, with the festival in late March.

Audition requirements vary according to district and level, and are released several months before the auditions:

All-State participants can also be considered for All-Eastern and All-National ensembles, run by the National Association for Music Educators. In addition to any audition materials, students must be recommended by their band or orchestra teacher to be considered.

WCMS offers an excellent chamber music program for students of all ages. Rehearsal dates and times are arranged according to the schedules of participants and coaches, and are held at the music school.

Placement auditions are generally held in the spring and fall. The requirements are:

I’m happy to announce that I’ve been accepted into the inaugural Symphony Nova Fellowship program for the 2014-2015 season.
The highlights will include:
– 3 concerts (two chamber orchestra, one woodwind quintet)
– school shows (with the woodwind quintet)
– other community outreach
– educational seminars for us to attend (including traditional masterclasses, and other topics like social media, financial planning, etc.)